CONSULTING AGREEMENT
THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is made and entered into as of the[day] day
of [month], [year], by and among [company name], a [company type, e.g., Georgia Limited Liability
Company] (the "Company"), and [consultant's name]("Consultant").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, Consultant is recognized as [area of expertise, e.g., an authority on matters related to
direct mail and other direct response advertising activities]; and
WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain Consultant to provide services related to and in support of
efforts in which Consultant has expertise;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual conditions and promises herein
contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Consulting Services. Consultant shall furnish the Company with his best advice, information,
judgment and knowledge with respect to [services provided by consultant, e.g., marketing via
direct mail and other direct response advertising vehicles].
2. Term. The term of this Agreement shall begin on [begin date] and shall, subject to the provisions
for termination set forth herein, continue until and terminate on [end date].
3. Compensation. For all services that Consultant renders to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates during the term hereof, the Company will pay Consultant a retainer of
$5,000 per month, payable on the first day of the month.
4. Confidential Information and Intellectual Property.
a. Consultant shall maintain in strict confidence, and not use or disclose except pursuant to
written instructions from the Company, any Trade Secret (as defined below) of the
Company, for so long as the pertinent data or information remains a Trade Secret,
provided that the obligation to protect the confidentiality of any such information or data
shall not be excused if such information or data ceases to qualify as a Trade Secret as a
result of the acts or omissions of Consultant.
b. Consultant shall maintain in strict confidence and, except as necessary to perform his
duties hereunder, not to use or disclose any Confidential Business Information (as
hereinafter defined) during the term of this Agreement and for a period of one (1) year
thereafter.
c. Consultant may disclose Trade Secrets or Confidential Business Information pursuant to
any order or legal process requiring the disclosing party (in its legal counsel's reasonable
opinion) to do so, provided that the request or order to so disclose the Trade Secrets or
Confidential Business Information in sufficient time to allow the Company to seek an
appropriate protective order.
(a) "Trade Secret" shall mean any information, including, but not limited to,
technical or non-technical data, a formula, a pattern, a compilation, a program, a
plan, a device, a method, a technique, a drawing, a process, financial data,
financial plans, product plans, or a list of actual or potential customers or
suppliers which (i) derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being
generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by,
other persons who can obtain economic value from its disclosure or use, and (ii)
is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain
its secrecy. "Confidential Business Information" shall mean any nonpublic
information of a competitively sensitive or personal nature, other than Trade
Secrets, acquired by Consultant in connection with performing services for the
Company, including (without limitation) oral and written information concerning
the Company's financial positions and results of operations (revenues, margins,
assets, net income, etc.)), annual and long-range business plans, marketing
plans and methods, account invoices, oral or written customer information, and
personnel information. (b) All original works of authorship that result from the
performance by Consultant of his duties hereunder, are deemed to be "works
made for hire" under the copyright laws of the United States, and will be and will
remain the sole and exclusive property of the Company. Consultant, at the
Company's request and sole expense, will assign to the Company in perpetuity
all proprietary rights that he may have in such works of authorship. Such
assignment shall be done by documents as prepared by the Company. Should
the Company elect to register claims of copyright to any such works of
authorship, Consultant will, at the expense of the Company, do such things, sign
such documents and provide such reasonable cooperation as is necessary for
the Company to register such claims, and obtain, protect, defend and enforce
such proprietary rights. Consultant shall have no right to use any trademarks or
proprietary marks of the Company without the express, prior written consent of
the Company regarding each use.
i. i. In the event Consultant shall violate or threaten to violate the provisions of this
Section 5, damages at law will be an insufficient remedy and the Company shall
be entitled to equitable relief including but not limited to injunction, monetary
damages, punitive damages, and specific liquidated damages in the amount of
$[amount of damages] for disclosure of confidential information and use of such
information to solicit company's customers. In addition, other remedies or rights
available to the Company and no bond or security will be required in connection
with such equitable relief.
ii. The existence of any claim or cause of action that Consultant may have against
the Company will not at any time constitute a defense to the enforcement by the
Company of the restrictions or rights provided by this Section 5, but the failure to
assert such claim or cause of action shall not be deemed to be a waiver of such
claim or cause of action.
iii. For purposes of this Section 5, "Company" shall include the Company and all of
its direct and indirect subsidiaries and any predecessors of the Company.
5. Acts Discreditable. Consultant shall at all times refer to Company and its operating units in
terms that further its business objectives. Consultant shall not refer to Company or its operating
units in a manner that damages Company's position in the marketplace.
6. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon written notice if the other
party breaches any of its obligations hereunder and the breaching party fails to cure such breach
within thirty (30) days after receipt of notice of such breach.
7. Severable Provisions. The provisions of this Agreement are severable, and if any one or more
provisions may be determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the
remaining provisions, and any partially enforceable provision to the extent enforceable in any
jurisdiction, shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
8. Binding Agreement. The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall
inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company.
The rights, obligations and duties of Consultant hereunder may not be assigned or delegated
without the Company's prior written consent.
9. Relationship of Parties. The Company and Consultant are independent contractors. Both
parties acknowledge and agree that Consultant's engagement hereunder is not exclusive and
that either party may provide to, or retain from, others similar such services provided that it does
so in a manner that does not otherwise breach this Agreement. Neither party is, nor shall claim to
be, a legal agent, representative, partner or employee of the other, and neither shall have the
right or authority to contract in the name of the other nor shall it assume or create any obligations,
debts, accounts or liabilities for the other.
10. Notices. Any notices or other communications required or permitted under this Agreement shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given and delivered when delivered in
person, two (2) days after being mailed postage prepaid by certified or registered mail with return
receipt requested, or when delivered by overnight delivery service or by facsimile to the recipient
at the following address or facsimile number, or to such other address or facsimile number as to
which the other party subsequently shall have been notified in writing by such recipient:
If to the Company:
[company name]
[company address]
[company city], [state (or province)] [zip (postal) code]
[company representative]
[company fax]
If to the Consultant:
[consultant's name]
[consultant's address]
[consultant's city], [state (or province)] [zip (postal) code]
[consultant's fax]
11. Waiver. Either party's failure to enforce any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not in
any way be construed as a waiver of any such provision or provisions as to future violations
thereof, nor prevent that party thereafter from enforcing each and every other provision of this
Agreement. The rights granted the parties herein are cumulative and the waiver by a party of any
single remedy shall not constitute a waiver of such party's right to assert all other legal remedies
available to him or it under the circumstances.
12. Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the
substantive laws of the State of [state] without reference to conflicts of law.
13. Captions and Section Headings. The various captions and section headings contained in this
Agreement are inserted only as a matter of convenience and in no way define, limit or extend the
scope or intent of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
14. Entire Agreement. With respect to its subject matter, this Agreement and its Exhibits constitute
the entire understanding of the parties superseding all prior agreements, understandings,
negotiations and discussions between them whether written or oral, and there are no other
understandings, representations, warranties or commitments with respect thereto.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective as of the date first written
above.
[company]
By: __________________________
[company representative]
[representative's title]
______________________________
[consultant's name]